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Business Editors/Real Estate Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 8, 2008--The San Diego County Board of Supervisors has approved Lowe Enterprises? Disposition and Development Agreement for the County Operations Center and Annex redevelopment in Kearny Mesa. The Board also certified the project?s Environmental Impact Report, setting the stage for Lowe Enterprises to redevelop the 37-acre County Operations Center site into a modern, efficient campus with approximately 900,000 square feet of office space, built to LEED Silver Certification standards, along with service buildings and parking.

?We will deliver to the County state-of-the-art facilities that will allow them to consolidate operations on their own campus,? said Mike McNerney, senior vice president, Lowe Enterprises Real Estate Group. ?Staff will have a highly professional environment that will foster collaboration. The landscaped, open spaces connect the buildings throughout and offer options for work breaks or casual conferences.?

The County Operations Center, located on Overland Avenue, will be developed in two phases. Lowe Enterprises will begin work on the first phase in the fall. One of the key components in phase one is the development of a central plant that will provide the mechanical systems to run the entire campus. Four 150,000-square-foot, four-story office buildings and a 20,000 square-foot conference center and cafeteria also are included in phase one. They will feature sustainable design incorporating a variety of energy efficient, green building technologies. Abundant windows will allow for natural light, while energy efficient roofing and glazing systems will reduce heat gain. Landscaping will feature water efficient plants and an irrigation system to reduce water usage. Phase one also includes a seven-level parking structure and offsite improvements to mitigate traffic impacts.

The first step in the construction process will be the demolition of several existing structures that are more than 40 years old. Development of the first phase is expected to be completed over the next four years.

The remaining phase of the development is comprised of an additional two 150,000-square-foot, four-story office buildings, identical to the buildings in phase one, and another parking structure.